A research procedure is a systematic method for conducting research, which includes the steps or actions taken to gather and analyze data. Research procedures are designed to ensure that the research is conducted in a rigorous and unbiased manner, and that the results are reliable and valid.
The specific steps in a research procedure will vary depending on the type of research being conducted, but they generally follow a logical and structured approach. The following is a general overview of the major steps involved in the research process:
- Defining the research question or problem: This is the first step in any research project and involves identifying the topic that the research will focus on and formulating a clear research question or problem statement.
- Literature review: This step involves conducting a thorough review of existing research on the topic to gain an understanding of what is already known and to identify any gaps in the current knowledge.
- Designing the study: This step involves deciding on the research design, sample size, data collection methods, and other logistical details.
- Data collection: This step involves collecting data from the participants or sources specified in the research design.
- Data analysis: This step involves analyzing the data that has been collected in order to answer the research question or test the hypothesis. This can involve using statistical methods, or other forms of analysis.
- Drawing conclusions: This step involves interpreting the results of the data analysis and drawing conclusions about the research question or hypothesis.
- Reporting the results: This step involves writing a report or article that communicates the research findings to others.
It’s worth noting that the research procedure is not a fixed and unchanging process, as it may require adjustments or even a complete redesign based on the results obtained. Depending on the nature of the research, some steps may be combined or omitted. For example, some research studies may not require a literature review, or may use observational data instead of conducting experiments.
A research procedure is a systematic and structured approach to conducting research, which is designed to ensure that the research is conducted in a rigorous and unbiased manner, and that the results are reliable and valid.
A research procedure example: Investigating the effectiveness of a new reading intervention program for struggling readers.
- Defining the research question or problem: The research question for this study is: “Does the new reading intervention program lead to significant improvements in reading comprehension and fluency in struggling readers?”
- Literature review: The researcher conducts a thorough review of existing research on reading intervention programs for struggling readers. The literature review revealed that there is a lack of research on the specific intervention program that is being studied. However, the literature review did reveal that interventions that focus on phonics instruction, vocabulary development, and fluency practice have been shown to be effective in improving reading skills in struggling readers.
- Designing the study: The researcher decides to use a randomized controlled trial design. The sample will consist of 200 struggling readers, aged 8-12, from a local school district. The intervention group will receive the new reading intervention program for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 12 weeks. The control group will receive the regular reading instruction provided by the school. Both groups will be assessed on reading comprehension and fluency before and after the intervention.
- Data collection: The researcher recruits participants from local schools and obtains informed consent from parents/guardians. Participants are randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The researcher administers pre-intervention assessments of reading comprehension and fluency to all participants. The intervention group begins the new reading intervention program, while the control group continues with their regular reading instruction. After 12 weeks, the researcher administers post-intervention assessments of reading comprehension and fluency to all participants.
- Data analysis: The researcher analyzes the data using statistical methods to determine if there are significant differences in reading comprehension and fluency scores between the intervention and control groups.
- Drawing conclusions: The results of the data analysis show that the intervention group had significantly higher scores on reading comprehension and fluency than the control group. The researcher concludes that the new reading intervention program leads to significant improvements in reading comprehension and fluency in struggling readers.
- Reporting the results: The researcher writes a report or article that communicates the research findings to others, including the rationale of the study, the methodology, the results, and the conclusion. The researcher submits the report to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. The researcher presents the findings at professional conferences and workshops to share the results with other researchers and educators in the field.
It’s worth noting that the research procedure is not a fixed and unchanging process, as it may require adjustments or even a complete redesign based on the results obtained. Depending on the nature of the research, some steps may be combined or omitted.
